The utilization of genetic approaches for effective conservation of endangered species ConGRESS project, regional workshop, Zvolen, January 25– 27, 2012

Abstract

The ConGRESS (Conservation Genetic Resources for Effective Species Survival, within 7th EU Framework Program) is an EU consortium dedicated to transferring current knowledge in conservation genetics and in the analysis of genetic variation data to management professionals and policy makers (http://www.congressgenetics.eu). The project ConGRESS is aimed at the activities at the regional level, with particular emphasis on improving skills and knowledge regarding biological diversity and methods of protection in the regions of Europe, where it can be particularly lacking today. By building a network based on the scientists, specialists, practitioners involved in the protection of plant and animal species management and protection policies will be possible to provide a forum for communicating ideas, experiences and support that will strengthen the protection of European biodiversity and the future will improve coverage of its activities (http://review.j4b.com/ Congress/default.aspx). The meeting initiated by the ConGRESS project was contributed to educate a new generation of conservation managers and politicians who could be able to take into account and apply genetic research in biodiversity conservation projects in the future. The meeting was attended by about 70 scientists from four European Union member states: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Italy, Poland and Croatia. The initiator of the organisation of scientific workshop were Ladislav Paule, Professor (Slovakia) and Josef Bryja, Associate Professor (Czech Republic). The main topics were related to the following issues: Presentation of the project’s ConGRESS and decision support tools for species conservation: – Description and utilization of modeling package available on the website of the project – Testing of different scenarios of decision in modeling tools of project work package – Testing of different scenarios in simulation tools of project work The summary discussion of the symposium with the main topics: – What are the main limitations of research results on conservation of genetic resources? – What should be done to improve the co-operation between scientists and geneticists to make it more efficient in practice? – Where could be find funding to build on their achievements in genetic decision-making processes regarding environmental protection? The Regional Workshop – “Utilization of genetic approaches for effective conservation of endangered species,” provides a platform linking the studies molecular biologists working in the assessment of genetic variability of endangered populations of plants and animals on one side and biologists practitioners actively involved in the protection of species. Long-term stability of gene pool in forest ecosystem is crucial to protect their ability to adapt to the impact of environmental changes, so conservation of adaptive genetic abilities of forest trees is fundamental in genetic management of forest stands. One of the fundamental facThe utilization of genetic approaches for effective conservation of endangered species ConGRESS project, regional workshop, Zvolen, January 25– 27, 2012